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2013/2014 Soccer/Football Thread

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Group A:
1. Manchester United
2. Shakhtar Donesk
3. Real Sociedad
4. Bayer Leverkusen

Manchester United have bagged themselves an easy group, but as we've learnt from previous champion league group stages, that doesn't guarantee them a place in the knockout stage. I'm fairly sure that they'll advance however. Shakhtar is the next obvious pick. I'm gunning for Real Sociedad to do well and place above Leverkusen, gut feeling really.

Group B:
1. Real Madrid
2. Juventus
3. Galatasaray
4. Kopenhagen

I will laugh if either Real Madrid or Juventus don't advance. It's actually in the mix to see which team comes first or second though; I feel that a Real Madrid shock could be on the cards.

Group C:
1. PSG
2. Benfica
3. Anderlecht
4. Olympiacos

PSG will most likely win this fairly average group, and then it really is a toss up over which team comes next. I think Benfica have the edge, although both Anderlecht and Olympiacos have the potential to advance to the knockout stage with this group.

Group D:
1. Bayern Munich
2. Man City
3. CSKA Moscow
4. Viktoria Plzen

This is Man City's biggest chance of getting into the knockout so far. Despite this being the group of death, I expect Bayern Munich to win with ease. I'm actually wary of Moscow beating City to second, although I'm hopeful to see City playing in the knockout stages.

Group E:
1. Chelsea
2. Basel
3. Schalke
4. Steaua

Chelsea winning the group stage is the most obvious, and I'm not really seeing any shock to prevent that. I think Basel may have the edge over Schalke, but this is on gut feeling~

Group F:
1. Napoli
2. Arsenal
3. Dortmund
4. Marseille

gogo shock results! Yeah I have no precedent for why I think this group will pan out like this, but I think Napoli are the strongest of these clubs at home, and I'm hoping for a Dortmund wobble. Really though, this probably won't happen.

Group G:
1. Atletico Madrid
2. Porto
3. Zenit
4. Wien

Atletico Madrid or go home.

Group H:
1. Barcelona
2. Milan
3. Celtic
4. Ajax

SO tempted to pick Celtic over Milan.

Aaand predictions on Premier League results.

Man City 3-0 Hull
West Ham 2-0 Stoke
Norwich 2-1 Southampton
Cardiff 2-2 Everton
Newcastle 0-1 Fulham
Crystal Palace 3-1 Sunderland
Liverpool 1-1 Man U
West Brom 1-2 Swansea
Arsenal 2-1 Tottenham
 
Precedent is 2 years ago when Arsenal, Dortmund and Marseille were drawn in a group and Dortmund finished last ^^) They didn't do half bad last year though
 
I see us having a legit shot at winning the Europa League this year.

also how the fuck do man united always get an easy group
 
We've beaten our fair share of teams: Bayern Munich 2-0, AC Milan 3-0, Barcelona 2-1, and that's just the last 3 years. The group is wide open with Napoli and Dortmund. You shouldn't settle for 3rd! I would much much prefer to go through than to win the Europa League.

Also now Eto is at Chelsea I wouldn't bet against some weird shit like Torres to Arsenal on the last day. Chelsea have 12 senior midfielders and 4 strikers now, someone somewhere is gonna be leaving!
 
No doubt I still think we have a good chance at progressing and possibly winning the group, but something tells me Dortmund will win the group and we'll be fighting Napoli for 2nd.
 
At the risk of spamming this thread, it'll be interesting to see if Wenger starts Flamini on Sunday. He said he's very fit and he's been training with the team for the last 3 weeks. If he doesn't start then a midfield of Ramsey, Wilshere and Rosicky can be expected but if he does start then:

----- Ramsey -- Flamini
Walcott -- Wilshere -- Cazorla
----------- Giroud
 
I'm really happy to see Eto sign for Chelsea because this has "Goodbye Torres" written all over it (or so I hope ;)). Chelsea have a record of avoiding the group of death and it's nice to see them maintain that :D
 
Group A: Manchester United - Shakhtar Donetsk - Bayer Leverkussen - Real Sociedad
Group B: Real Madrid - Juventus - Galatasaray - Kopenhagen

Group C: Benfica - PSG - Olympiacos - Anderlecht

Group D: Bayern Munich - CSKA Moscow - Man City - Viktoria Plzen

Group E: Chelsea - FC Schalke 04 - FC Basel - Steaua

Group F: Arsenal - Marseille - Dortmund - Napoli

Group G: Porto - Atletico Madrid - Zenit - Austria Wien

Group H: Barcelona - AC Milan - Ajax - Celtic
 
They actually should have gone through but apparently goal difference isn't a tiebreaker in Champions League ???? wtf uefa
 
No Luck Involved said:
We've beaten our fair share of teams: Bayern Munich 2-0, AC Milan 3-0, Barcelona 2-1, and that's just the last 3 years. The group is wide open with Napoli and Dortmund. You shouldn't settle for 3rd! I would much much prefer to go through than to win the Europa League.
Click to expand...

You really count that "win" vs Bayern?
That's just as funny as Leverkusen being proud of being the only team in the Bundesliga, who beat Bayern last year.
 
You would rather I said we didn't beat Bayern? I'm calling out results when everybody's saying Arsenal will get walked over. I'm looking forward to the group no matter who's in it jeez can't even say anything around here anymore...

edit: Also:

Eto'o talking about Chelsea from 2005 - http://www.sportstaronnet.com/tss2819/stories/20050507007007000.htm

Eto'o has been fierce in contesting money power as well. After Chelsea overturned a first-leg 1-2 deficit against Barcelona to win 5-4 on aggregate... Eto'o took a swipe at the Roman Abramovich owned West London team. "We were the only team that wanted to play football. Chelsea going through is a disaster for football," he said. "And if this team wins the Champions League, it would make you want to retire. With so much money and so many players, what they do is not football."

:p
 
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bit hypocritical for him to then go to anzhi for £100000000000000000000000000000000 a week then really
 
Group A: Manchester United - Shakhtar Donetsk - Bayer Leverkusen - Real Sociedad this is actually a tough group and any team could get the second spot, though I think leverkusen will end 4th. Shakthar and Real Sociedad will fight for the 2nd place imo

Group B: Real Madrid - Juventus - Galatasaray - Kopenhagen- Galatasaray is actually a good time so they have the potential to edge Juventus, but the italians are still the favourite to advance

Group C: Benfica - PSG - Olympiacos - Anderlecht-- PSG is the obvious 1st, and I guess Benfica will advance because this group is weak as shit, though it wouldn't surprise me if Benfica fucked up

Group D: Bayern Munich - CSKA Moscow - Man City - Viktoria Plzen - this group is pretty obvious and I don't expect any surprises despite how bad Manchester City is at Champions League

Group E: Chelsea - FC Schalke 04 - FC Basel - Steaua- this group is so easy it's not even real. I guess Schalke will advance but it's not like they're a great team so maybe Basel can be the surprise of the group

Group F: Arsenal - Marseille - Dortmund - Napoli - This is the most difficult group by far, and Borussia Dortmund is the obvious favourite. I think Napoli will advance because I think they're a very good team and Arsenal isn't that good this year (feels pretty bad when you're an Arsenal supporter, I must say)

Group G: Porto - Atletico Madrid - Zenit - Austria Wien - Atletico de Madrid should have an easy ride in this round, and I think Porto will be the other team to advance, though Zenit is a decent team as well so it's up for grabs

Group H: Barcelona - AC Milan - Ajax - Celtic- Barcelona and Milan shouldn't have a hard time to get to the second round, but the group isn't actually easy.
 
Jesus fucking christ Chelsea. You played so fucking well, you deserved to win before 90mins and you deserved to win at extra time. Oh, and then it's vs the germans at penalties at the german end and whoops you've lost. Oscar congrats for missing when Dante slipped. Jesus Christ I need to calm down.
 
Suicide watch for Lukaku

Also during all this excitement Spurs signed Lamela and Erikson. So yeah a front three of Soldado, Erikson and Lamela is looking a lot better! They have the options now to play either 3 hardmen in midfield or have 2 sitting and play Holtby in the hole or even have 2 sitting and put Chadli/Lennon/Townsend out wide if need be.
 
Okay I've calmed down a bit. Player ratings gogogo

Neuer - 8
Rafinha - 6
Boateng - 6
Dante - 5
Alaba - 7
Lahm - 7
Muller - 7
Kroos - 8
Robben - 6
Ribery - 8
Mandzukic - 7

Subs:
Martinez - 8
Shaqiri - 6
Gotze - 6

Cech - 9
Ivanovic - 7
Cahill - 9
Luiz - 9
Cole - 8
Ramires - 5
Lampard - 8
Schurrle - 7
Oscar - 9
Hazard - 9
Torres - 8

Subs:
Terry - 6
Mikel - 7
Lukaku - 4
 
why didn't terry or ivanovic step up to take the last penalty. surely it was too much on an inexperienced lukaku to take the most important penalty.

or even switching the order of the penalty takers would have made sense so that lukaku doesn't take the last decisive one
 
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